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Poulter thrills Masters golf promoters

Sam Lienert

As happy as promoters of next week's Australian Masters were in August to announce that Englishman Ian Poulter would be back to defend his title at Kingston Heath, they are even happier now.

The confident and charismatic world No.15, who has overtaken Australia's Adam Scott as tournament favourite, was already a big drawcard but has become one of golf's hottest names in recent months.

IMG Australia's director of golf David Rollo was thrilled to see Poulter spearhead Europe's remarkable comeback victory to retain the coveted Ryder Cup in September.

"It was probably some of the most compelling golf that I've ever seen," Rollo told AAP on Friday.

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"He was absolutely the architect of their fightback when he birdied the last five holes in their four-ball match (partnering Rory McIlroy) on the Saturday afternoon to get them within four points."

The renowned match-play performer went on to win his singles match against American Webb Simpson as the Europeans overhauled that four-point deficit on the final day, cementing his hero status and a 4-0 record for the week.

Poulter was still without an individual title for the season until Sunday, when he stormed home in the WGC-HSBC Champions event in China with a final-round seven-under-par 65 after trailing by four shots, ensuring he arrived in Melbourne on a high.

The Masters' other drawcards include Irishman Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, who has allayed fears that he might miss the event after jamming his hand in a door last week.

Australia's top-ranked player Adam Scott, the world No.6, will play the Masters for the first time since 2009.

That was when it was last played at Kingston Heath and huge crowds flocked to watch a pre-scandal Tiger Woods win what was his first event in Australia in 11 years.

Steve Williams, caddying for Woods then, will this time be on Scott's bag, after joining the Australian in 2011.

The field also includes 2010 champion Stuart Appleby and fellow Victorian Robert Allenby.

Rollo said the course was largely the same as for the 2009 Masters, although the tee on the final hole is about 25m further back to bring bunkers on the left into play.